1. What is Morgan's Heat Flow Equation?

The Morgan's Heat Flow equation calculates the rate of heat transfer through a material by conduction. It's particularly useful for wood and other building materials to understand their thermal properties.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the heat conduction equation:

Where:

• \( Q \) — Heat flow rate (watts)
• \( k \) — Thermal conductivity of the material (W/mK)
• \( A \) — Cross-sectional area perpendicular to heat flow (m²)
• \( \Delta T \) — Temperature difference across the material (K)
• \( L \) — Thickness of the material (m)

Explanation: The equation shows that heat flow increases with greater thermal conductivity, larger area, and larger temperature difference, but decreases with greater thickness.

3. Importance of Heat Flow Calculation

Details: Understanding heat flow is crucial for building insulation design, energy efficiency calculations, and material selection for thermal applications.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter thermal conductivity in W/mK (0.04-0.4 for most woods), area in m², temperature difference in Kelvin, and thickness in meters. All values must be positive.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What are typical k values for wood?
A: Thermal conductivity of wood typically ranges from 0.04 W/mK (low density) to 0.4 W/mK (high density), varying with species and moisture content.

Q2: How does moisture affect wood's thermal conductivity?
A: Moisture increases thermal conductivity as water conducts heat better than dry wood fibers.

Q3: What's the difference between K and °C in ΔT?
A: For temperature differences, 1 K = 1°C, so either unit can be used in the calculation.

Q4: Can this be used for composite materials?
A: For composites, you need to use an effective thermal conductivity that accounts for all layers.

Q5: How accurate is this for real-world applications?
A: This provides theoretical maximum conduction; actual heat transfer may be affected by air gaps, convection, and radiation.